Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Pakistan?
Nicotine pouches are legal and openly sold in Pakistan as ordinary consumer products: there is no pouch-specific law, BAT has sold VELO there since 2019 and Philip Morris began local production of ZYN in 2025, making Pakistan one of the world's largest pouch markets. Tobacco snus is also legal to sell, buy and use; oral tobacco (naswar, gutka) is traditional and not specifically regulated beyond general tobacco rules such as the 18-year minimum age. No customs allowance specific to snus or pouches is published.
Southern Asia
Pakistan at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | Unregulated (sold openly) | Legal |
| Possession and use | Legal | Legal |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Allowed | Allowed |
| Online sale inside the country | Allowed | Allowed |
| Regulated | as a general consumer product | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | No legal cap found | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | No flavour restrictions | No flavour restrictions |
| Excise tax | Unclear | Unclear |
| Legal basis | No product-specific law; general tobacco framework (Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance 2002; Cigarettes (Printing of Warning) Ordinance 1979) | Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance 2002 (sale to under-18s prohibited); no oral-tobacco-specific law |
| In force since | 1 January 2019 | – |
Medium confidence: Based on consistent secondary sources; primary text not yet verified. Research tier 1. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Pakistan
Legal, unregulated consumer product, 18+.
TobaccoIntelligence (May 2024): nicotine pouches are not specifically regulated and can be sold as a consumer product. GSTHR: allowed, including online purchase and use; health claims banned and health warnings required per Anti-Smoking Global Index. Tobacco Reporter (Dec 2025): BAT launched Velo in 2019 and Philip Morris (Pakistan) started local ZYN production at Sahiwal in 2025; a case study cites Pakistan as the world's largest pouch consumer base. Authorities are expected to consider age controls and product standards; an Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Bill for Islamabad (Jan 2026) targets vapes, not pouches.
Tax: GSTHR (2024 data) records no excise on pouches; press reports of a federal excise duty on nicotine pouches introduced in a recent Finance Act could not be verified against the Federal Excise Act text available (2019 version).
Sources: Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR), TobaccoIntelligence, Tobacco Reporter, Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
Tobacco snus in Pakistan
Legal, 18+, no specific rules.
GSTHR: sale, purchase and use of snus permitted; no flavour restrictions; health warnings required and health claims prohibited. TobaccoIntelligence: oral tobacco products are not specifically regulated, only general tobacco provisions apply. Tobacco Control Laws: health warnings are not required on smokeless tobacco products; sale of tobacco products to under-18s is prohibited; no restrictions on internet sales. Traditional naswar is widely used; Swedish-style snus has little retail presence.
Tax: GSTHR reports no excise levied on snus; federal excise applies to cigarettes and manufactured tobacco generally.
Sources: Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR), TobaccoIntelligence, Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Pakistan
| For personal use | Allowed No published duty-free quantity specific to snus or nicotine pouches. Baggage Rules 2006 (SRO 666(I)/2006) allow bona fide personal-use items; commercial quantities are dutiable. |
| Declaration | Unclear |
| Penalties | No specific penalty information found. |
FBR (Dec 2024) clarified that limits proposed for commercial quantities do not apply to items for personal use or gifts. Both products are legal in the country, so personal quantities are not prohibited imports.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Pakistan?
Buying snus and pouches in Pakistan
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: Yes
- Tobacco snus sold in shops: Yes
- Brands commonly seen: VELO, ZYN
Pending and proposed changes
- Authorities are expected to consider stricter age controls, product standards and monitoring for nicotine pouches as the category grows; no specific bill identified. Status: rumoured.
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in Pakistan?
Yes. There is no specific law on nicotine pouches, so they are sold as ordinary consumer products. VELO has been on sale since 2019 and ZYN is now made locally.
Is snus legal in Pakistan?
Yes. Sale, purchase and use of snus are permitted; oral tobacco such as naswar is traditional and not specifically regulated beyond the general 18-year age limit.
Can I bring snus or nicotine pouches into Pakistan?
Yes, in personal-use quantities. Pakistan's Baggage Rules have no published limit specific to these products; commercial quantities attract duty.
What is the age limit for nicotine pouches in Pakistan?
The general tobacco rule prohibits sale to anyone under 18. No pouch-specific age law exists, and enforcement is limited.
Nearby in the atlas
- Afghanistan – pouches unregulated (sold openly), snus legal
- Armenia – pouches legal, snus no specific rule found
- Azerbaijan – pouches unregulated (sold openly), snus no specific rule found
- Bahrain – pouches banned, snus banned
- Bangladesh – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- Bhutan – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal with restrictions
- Brunei – pouches no specific rule found, snus banned
- Cambodia – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal
- China – pouches legal with restrictions, snus legal with restrictions
- Georgia – pouches legal, snus legal
Where are nicotine pouches legal?Where is snus legal?Strength limits by countryAge limits by country
Sources
- Smoking, vaping, HTP, NRT and snus in Pakistan – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Pakistan has a favourable regulatory environment for snus. The sale, purchase, and use of snus are permitted by law. There are no restrictions on flavour ranges, and no excise tax is levied. [...] nicotine pouches are legally allowed in Pakistan, including for online purchase and use.”
- Pakistan: oral tobacco and nicotine pouch regulation, May 2024 – TobaccoIntelligence (Trade press, 15 May 2024; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Oral tobacco products are not specifically regulated, but some general provisions for tobacco products are applicable. Nicotine pouches are not specifically regulated, and we understand they can be sold as a consumer product.”
- Pakistan's Pouch Market Reshaping Tobacco Landscape – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 5 December 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited recently began local production of ZYN at its Sahiwal facility, following British American Tobacco's early entrance with Velo in 2019, solidifying Pakistan as a key growth market for modern oral nicotine products.”
- Pakistan: Legal summary – Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids) (NGO / research, 7 August 2020; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“There are no restrictions on the sale of tobacco products via vending machines or the internet. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.”
- Press release (Baggage Rules) – Federal Board of Revenue, Pakistan (Customs, 10 December 2024; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“the limit of USD 1200 mentioned in the draft Notification does not apply to items of personal use and bona fide baggage items.”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.